Kefu exploring options in league

SUNSHINE Coast Stingrays’ coach Toutai Kefu says he wants to “explore things outside of rugby” after accepting to be a part of the Brisbane NRL bid.

The former Wallabies No.8 said he had agreed to be a talent scout and mentor to players of Pacific Island origin should the bid be successful in being granted an NRL licence for the 2013 season.

His agreement will not interfere with his Stingrays coaching duties during the 2011 season.

He said he there were still several bridges to be crossed before the bid got off the ground and he would be required to take up a fulltime role with the prospective club.

“The role would be mentoring the players before and after – if they weren’t successful, steering them along that path,” he said.

“It’d be talent identification and some skills coaching.

“I haven’t really worked with league before, but it would be general stuff like ball skills and catching and passing. I also hope to learn a little.

“It’s something I’d like to do, branch out and explore things outside of rugby.”

Kefu said he asked to join the bid team by Bill Rae, a friend who he knew from his days playing with the Souths Rugby Union club.

The Brisbane bid will officially launch today with a media function in Brisbane.

It has quickly gathered momentum in the last few weeks and is now on equal footing with rival bids from Central Queensland, Perth and Central NSW Coast.

“It came through a good friend, he’s involved with the bid,” Kefu said.

“I just though it might be a change of lifestyle and decided to give it a go. It might come real, it might not.”

Kefu’s presence at Stockland Park is far from guaranteed beyond this season.

He spent a stint in the off-season assisting his former Japanese side Kubota and will spend further time with the club during the year.

He has yet to receive a formal job offer from the side however they have expressed a desire to keep him on board.

He will also assist the Tongan side in the lead up to the World Cup.

The Stingrays yesterday warmed up for the Premier Rugby season by winning the Plate Final of the Currumbin 10s on the Gold Coast. The side lost just one of its five fixtures for the weekend, defeating Marist Samoa 20-10 in the Plate Final.